Tool Checks Condition of Transformers Periodically

Jul 21, 2015

The Raptor system consists of a main ‘master’ unit and a number of optional units that enable the execution of virtually any commissioning or routine testing jobs on the primary equipment of medium and high voltage electricity installations.

The simplest Raptor configuration gathers a comprehensive set of resources and test functions in an ultra compact, portable 77-lb (35 kg) body: master unit, detachable touchscreen console, voltage and current measurement inputs, dual voltage/current test source, binary input, and a 3-kVA digital amplifier for a maximum 9,500 A current injection with variable frequency. A large diversity of test jobs can be accomplished, including circuit breaker and recloser testing, ground grid integrity verification, transformer saturation analysis, burden and ratio measurement, and more.

For high current applications, the Raptor implements the ‘pass-through secondary’ technique, with a centered hole that confers to this product a unique personality. You only need to drive the current conductor through the Raptor and attach both ends to the device under test. Multiple cables can be used in parallel to increase the effective cross section, and the compliance voltage can be easily multiplied by just doing multiple turns around the unit. If additional power is required, 5-kVA slave units can be added for up to a total 18 kVA and a maximum 15,000 A injection. These units communicate with the master Raptor via an infrared link, so no physical interconnections are required. An integrated software calculator allows determining the equipment and cabling required to attain a specific amount of current easily.

Tests requiring a moderately high AC voltage up to 2,000 V can be accomplished by adding the Raptor HV to the system. These jobs include power transformer evaluation, voltage withstand / isolation tests, and step & touch voltage measurement, among others. The Raptor HV is visually similar to the other Raptor units but lacks the characteristic center hole in the current injection models.

No matter the combination of master and optional units used, the entire Raptor system is controlled as a single device from the control console in the master unit. This small command center features a magnetic rear face and implements a comprehensive collection of pre-configured tests that can be customized and extended by the user. Custom settings and test results are permanently stored for subsequent download from a PC via a standard USB port. The Raptor console can be directly updated over the Internet via its built-in RJ-45 Ethernet® LAN connection.

The Raptor is a stabilized injection system, i.e. it will compensate small supply and load variations automatically to guarantee the test values throughout the entire job’s duration. Its compact and robust design enables the use by a single person, and its modular concept avoids the need of investing in unnecessary features or carrying equipment that you will not need.